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(fwd) Compost Tea
On Thu, 15 Jun 2000 23:59:24 -0700, in alt.sustainable.agriculture
jko@xprt.net (Jeff Owens) wrote:
Compost Tea FAQ
---------------
This FAQ still needs work so comments are welcome. I
would like to see the Biodynamics information expanded
and better information on how different tea's perform.
Anyone having ideas email jeff at jko@xprt.net.
What is compost tea?
A wide variety of organic slurries are called compost
tea. Generally, the tea contains living organisms which
provide useful functions. Since it is made from organic
materials it can also function as a fertilizer.
Is compost tea based on science or folklore?
Compost tea has a long history of use and does contain
much folklore. The preparations used by BioDynamic
farmers could be considered compost teas. In the last
few years some of the claims for compost tea have been
validated and new ideas introduced. All indicator
suggest compost tea has a significant future in agriculture.
Why do we need compost tea?
The uses for compost tea are still emerging but here is
a partial list:
1. foliar feeding
2. soil pest control
3. disease control
4. soil revitalization
Orchard magazines are talking about controlling soil
life using tea's along with apple scab and fungus. Garden
magazines describe booster sprays for mid season. The
list of uses are long as are the types of compost tea.
How does compost tea work?
It is believed that compost tea works in many ways. Since
it is a soup of diverse organisms the result can also be
very diverse. If the tea finds a niche it can fill then
it will. In nature everything eats a neighbor and adding
new neighbors can change the ecology quickly. Anyway,
that is one view. The scientific view might focus on
beneficial nematodes and how they attack cutworms, root
weevils, and other soil pests.
If tea is that great why isn't everyone using it?
The use of compost tea is growing and new companies selling
specialized products appear each day. Many garden catalogs
are now carrying various teas. The problem is that each
site is different and the variety of possible tea's is almost
infinite. We have begun to open up the old efficient farming
issue again. Do you make teas for a specific function and
manipulate the ecology or do you build a diverse healthy
garden an let it regulate itself. The later view would
be more sustainable and less interested in a large array
of specialized products. The efficient farming approach
would want tea's to address specific problems and simple
rules for using tea's with various crops.
What approach fits sustainable gardening and agriculture?
The use of compost tea is ideal for sustainable farming
and gardening. It trades local labor for imported products
to fight pests or increase fertility. It also connects
a farmer with the soil and rewards careful observation.
The gardener spends time brewing tea, thinking about
soil and plants, identifying optimum spraying times,
and developing a local art. Compost tea can be part of
local recycling and use of compost piles.
Are there easy methods to make compost tea?
The process of making tea can use complex fermentation
equipment or be the byproduct of other organic activity.
Some people use the liquid from worm bins or the liquid
from composting toilets, but most small scale tea production
is from fermenting finished compost in water. Another easy
approach is to ferment organic materials in a large tub
of water. This process can utilize summer temperatures
to speed the fermentation and dark containers to increase
solar heating. For most sites an easy method of making
tea can be found which utilizes existing materials
and fits the climate.
What ingredients can be used?
Most organic materials can be used to make tea. Teas
made from animal manures are preferred for some applications
but other teas also work. We still have a lot to learn
about ways to brew tea. Some of the materials mentioned
often are:
animal manure fish emulsion kitchen scraps
molasses citrus rinds grass clippings
kelp comfry leaves weeds
compost mushroom compost nettles
seaweed worm castings urine
cider vinegar straw animal bedding
How is compost tea made?
Quick tea can be made by mixing one gallon of finished
compost with 5 gallons of water and letting sit for 10
to 14 days. The ideal temperature for this is somewhere
over 50 degrees. Probably temperatures of 80 degrees would
reduce the time and increase the fermentation.
Commercial tea production usually requires a tank with
attached bubbler and enough heat to keep the mixture at
around 70 degrees. This method requires 2-3 days.
Home brew systems can be much simpler. Any tank
can be filled with water and a started mixture
added along with organic matter. In some cases it
is enough to just dump in organic matter and let
nature takes its course. This can take months.
A very simple biodigester can be made from two garbage
cans and works well for small urban sites. It provides
both compost and tea. This is described at the
Cornell composting site (see references).
What are some common recipes?
Simple Tea: 1. place aged compost in cloth bag and soak
in tub with 5 parts water. After 2 or more
weeks remove the bag.
2. Mix 2 tbls molasses, 2 tbls seaweed extract,
1 tbls apple cider, 1 gallon of water. Ferment
for awhile.
3. In late spring fill a barrel with comfry or nettles,
or other greens. Place barrel in warm spot and
wait till well aged and stinks. Strain and use
liquid.
4. Fill tub with 5 parts water to one part urine.
let it age for two weeks in warm spot or use
immediately.
Complex tea: 1. Obtain a fish tank bubbler and method to keep
tea container at around 70 degrees. Mix 5 parts
water with 1 part compost, 4 oz of molasses, and
kelp extract. Ferment and bubble for about 2
days. Strain and spray on trees and plants.
Where can more information be found?
http://www.comost.org/ICAW99compostteaPR.html
Compost Council of Canada
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/comptea.html
Good article on state of art compost tea
http://www.life.ca/nl/compost.html
Simple compost tea recipe
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/Composting_Homepage.html
Cornell compost home page
http://www.icangarden.com/home.htm
garden ideas including compost tea.
--------
This FAQ is maintained by jeff owens.
Please send FAQ comments and additions to:
jko@xprt.net, http://www.xprt.net/~jko
or to the ecopath discusson list at ecopath@csf.colorado.edu
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